Word Origin & History

Afghan name of the people of Afghanistan, technically only correctly applied to the Durani Afghans; Old Afghan chronicles trace the name to an Afghana, son of Jeremiah, sone of Israelite King Saul, from whom they claimed descent, but this is a legend. The name is first attested in Arabic in al-'Utbi's "History of Sultan Mahmud" written c.1030 C.E. and was in use in India from 13c. Attested from 1833 as a type of blanket or wrap (in full, Afghan shawl); 1973 as a style of sheepskin coat; 1877 as a type of carpet; 1895 as a breed of hunting dog.

Example Sentences for afghan

Margery was crocheting a baby's afghan, and Polly was almost obscured by a rumpled, yellow dress which lay in her lap.

Some attacks, however, were made upon the Afghan intrenchments.

We have improved a little since we made the afghan for Aunt Sallie, haven't we?

This brought the second period of the Afghan war to a close.

Even from that distance Sara Lee could see the bit of pink which was the bow on her afghan.

It was but the work of a minute for Will to attire himself in the uniform of the Afghan soldier.

The tribes here greeted our advance with pleasure, for they were tributary to Cabul, and viewed the Afghan rule with aversion.

I shall be at home with them, for most of them belong to the Afghan tribes.

The old Afghan writers reckon them Deggauns, but they appear to have used this word loosely.

The situation was, however, complicated by the proximity of the Afghan frontier.